Karen_O

Karen O

Karen O

Korean American musician (born 1978)

Karen Lee Orzolek (born November 22, 1978)[1] is a South Korean-born American singer, musician, and songwriter. She is the lead vocalist of the indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Quick Facts Background information, Birth name ...

Early life

Karen Lee Orzolek was born in Seoul, South Korea,[2][3] the daughter of a Korean mother and a Polish father.[4][5][6] The family eventually moved to Englewood, New Jersey, where she grew up[7] and graduated from The Elisabeth Morrow School and Dwight-Englewood School.[8] About her childhood, she stated that "it's almost embarrassing how well-behaved I was, which is probably why I do things like spit water on myself on stage as an adult".[9] She attended Oberlin College before transferring to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

Career

Karen O is known as the lead vocalist for the band Yeah Yeah Yeahs. She has also been noted for her fashion, often wearing outfits made by her friend, fashion designer Christian Joy. In the early days of the band, she became well-known for her antics during live shows.[5]

During a tour for the 2003 Livid Festival in Australia, at a sideshow at The Metro in Sydney, Karen O accidentally danced off the stage and was reluctantly taken to a hospital. A few days later, at the Sydney leg of the Livid Festival, she appeared in a wheelchair pushed onstage by Angus Andrew.[10]

In 2007, Karen O was placed at number three on Spinner's "Women Who Rock Right Now" list.[11] The following year, she debuted a side project called Native Korean Rock with fellow New York City musicians, with two intimate performances at Union Pool in Brooklyn on July 21.[12][13]

O at All Tomorrow's Parties festival, December 2009

In 2009, she contributed backing vocals, screaming animal sounds, and noises to the songs "Gemini Syringes", "I Can Be A Frog", and "Watching the Planets" on The Flaming Lips album Embryonic. In 2011, she contributed vocals on the song "Pinky's Dream" on the David Lynch debut album Crazy Clown Time. In 2012, she collaborated with experimental rock group Swans on the song "Song for a Warrior" on their album The Seer. She also lends vocals to the song "GO!" on Santigold's 2012 album Master of My Make-Believe.

On the collaboration project with N.A.S.A. on The Spirit of Apollo, she appears on the track "Strange Enough", together with Ol' Dirty Bastard and Fatlip. Karen O's vocal approach has been described as "ethereal",[14] and has been described as "yelping" at times.[15] She described her approach:

We still have to grab people by the collar ... We put out a record every three years now; we could easily be forgotten. If you look at a lot of our peers that we came up with, a lot of them have disappeared.

— Karen O in the Los Angeles Times, 2009[15]

Karen O has also collaborated with James Iha on his second solo LP Look to the Sky in 2012. In 2014, Target used a version of the song "A Marshmallow World" sung by Karen O.[16] In 2015 she did a remake of Animotion's Obsession, written by legendary songwriter, Holly Knight for a new STARZ show, Flesh and Bone. On May 5, 2015, a song by Karen O in tribute to Nellie Bly was used as part of a Google doodle commemorating Bly's 151st birthday.[17] The same year, Microsoft approached Karen O to pen a theme song for Square Enix's game Rise of the Tomb Raider, which resulted in the song "I Shall Rise".[18]

Soundtrack work

Karen O was featured in the track "Cut Me Up" by Har Mar Superstar for the soundtrack to the 2005 horror film House of Wax. For the movie Jackass 2, Karen O collaborated with electronic artist Peaches and Johnny Knoxville to record a track entitled "Backass"; for Jackass 3D, she covered Roger Alan Wade's "If You're Gonna Be Dumb" under the alternative title of "If You're Gonna Be Dumb, You Gotta Be Tough". In 2007, she also contributed vocals to a version of Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" for the I'm Not There film soundtrack.[19] At the end of episode 409, "Brothers Cinco", of the Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! she performed a short song. She also has a song titled "Strange Love" on the album "Frankenweenie Unleashed!"

Karen O collaborated with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross on a cover version of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" for the soundtrack to the 2011 film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, for which Reznor and Ross composed the score.[20]

Work with Spike Jonze

Karen O and Spike Jonze collaborated on a 2005 Adidas commercial, Hello Tomorrow, after Jonze had directed the video for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' 2004 single "Y Control". Karen O composed all songs on the soundtrack of Jonze's film Where the Wild Things Are (with the exception of a cover of the Daniel Johnston song "Worried Shoes") in collaboration with Carter Burwell. She is listed on the soundtrack as "Karen O and the Kids".[21] The song "All Is Love", written by Karen O and Nick Zinner and included in this soundtrack, was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media, a songwriter's award, at the 2010 Grammy Awards.[22]

Karen O also contributed "The Moon Song" to Jonze's 2013 film Her.[23] Karen O and Jonze were nominated in 2014 for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "The Moon Song".[24]

Karen O at Bumbershoot 2009.

Jonze shot the video for Karen O & Danger Mouse's "Woman" live in one take as the duo performed on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

Video work

In 2004, Karen O, using the moniker Marshmellow, directed the music video for "We Fenced Other Gardens with the Bones of Our Own" by Liars, fronted by her then-boyfriend Angus Andrew.[25][26] The following year, she directed the "Blessed Evening" video for Foetus with her then-boyfriend Spike Jonze working as cinematographer.[27] In 2006, she directed the Yeah Yeah Yeahs video for "Cheated Hearts".[28][29]

Under the moniker Kids with Canes, Karen O and her now-husband Barnaby Clay directed the music video for the Tiny Masters of Today song "Hologram World", released in 2008. Karen O also contributed vocals to the song and served as choreographer of the video, in which she appears with Yeah Yeah Yeahs bandmates Nick Zinner and Brian Chase, as well as Mike D from the Beastie Boys, Gibby Haynes from the Butthole Surfers, Russell Simins from the Blues Explosion, and Sam James from The Mooney Suzuki.[30]

KO at Home demo leak

On December 10, 2006, a home-recorded album titled KO at Home was leaked via an invite-only BitTorrent tracking site. The album, originally a personal gift to Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio, was discovered inside a suitcase that Sitek had left behind in a New York City apartment. The disc's 14 tracks and scan of the cover (a photograph of Karen O with a poem written by Oscar Wilde on the back side of the photo) quickly spread. News sites broke the story of the leak when Sitek lashed out at the fan who leaked the demos.[31][32][33] Eventually, Sitek followed up his comments with an apology letter.[34] In response to the leak, Karen O said that "shit happens", and although she was "a little grossed out", she offered commentary on which of the songs she liked the most.[35]

Solo career

Karen O's debut solo album, Crush Songs, was released on September 9, 2014.[36] It was released on Cult Records via Kobalt Label Services.[37] On February 17, 2015, Karen O released a live album titled Live from Crush Palace, recorded during three shows at Hollywood Forever Cemetery's Masonic Lodge in Los Angeles in September 2014. The album features live renditions of songs from Crush Songs, as well as "Hideaway" from Where the Wild Things Are and "The Moon Song" from Her.[38][39] On January 11, 2018, Karen O released the song "Yo! My Saint", featuring guest vocals from Michael Kiwanuka, in support of Kenzo's Spring Summer 2018 collection.[40] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Karen O at number 184 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[41]

Lux Prima

Lux Prima is the collaborative album from Karen O and musician-producer Danger Mouse, released March 15, 2019. The two originally met to discuss collaboration in 2007 as mutual admirers, but did not collaborate until 2016 due to scheduling and availability, resulting in the album Lux Prima three years later.

An Encounter with Lux Prima

"An Encounter with Lux Prima"[42] was an immersive art piece and communal listening experience soundtracked by Karen O and Danger Mouse's collaborative album Lux Prima. The installation premiered at Los Angeles' Marciano Art Foundation in April 2019, where it played to sold-out audiences.[citation needed] The piece saw the duo collaborate with a number of artists, including creative director Barnaby Clay, sound designer Ren Klyce, lighting designer Tobias Rylander and visual artist Davy Evans, in collaboration with George Lucas' Skywalker Sound and Meyer Sound on audio design and build, as well as MSG's Obscura Digital on projection mapping.[citation needed]

Personal life

Karen O has dated Spike Jonze and Liars lead singer Angus Andrew, the latter of whom was the subject of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' song "Maps".[43] In December 2011, she married director Barnaby Clay.[44] Their son Django[45] was born in August 2015.[46]

Discography

See also: Yeah Yeah Yeahs discography

Studio albums

Live albums

  • Live from Crush Palace (2015)

Soundtrack albums

Singles

As lead artist

More information Title, Year ...
More information Title, Year ...

Other charted songs

More information Title, Year ...

Guest appearances

More information Title, Year ...

Awards

In 2006, Karen O was nominated for the GAFFA-Prisen Award for Best Foreign Female Act.[86]

Karen O was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for co-writing "The Moon Song" with Spike Jonze for the film Her.[24]

Notes

  1. "All Is Love" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 37 on the US Heatseekers Songs chart.[55]
  2. "Immigrant Song" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number eight on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[57]
  3. "Immigrant Song" did not enter the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, but peaked at number 14 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart.[58]

References

  1. [1]
    Marks, Craig (February 25, 2009). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Stayin' Alive". Spin. Retrieved November 22, 2010. On a wintry evening in late November [2008], Karen O celebrated her 30th birthday by ...
  2. [2]
    Martoccio, Angie (October 20, 2022). "Karen O and Michelle Zauner on Smashing Expectations and the Power of 'No'". Rolling Stone.
  3. [3]
    Karen O: Actually, I was born in Seoul. Zauner: You were born in Seoul, that’s right! Your Wikipedia used to say Busan. Karen O: Does it still say that? Zauner: Yeah, it still says that. Karen O: We changed it two years ago. I guess they went back— Zauner: Busan really wants to claim you [laughs].
    — Rolling Stone, Karen O and Michelle Zauner on Smashing Expectations and the Power of ‘No’
  4. [4]
    Chi, Minnie (July 18, 2003). "Half Korean, 100% Rock Star". Asia Pacific Arts. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2008.
  5. [5]
    Sheffield, Rob (April 7, 2006). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Goth, Nerd, Slut". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 21, 2007. Retrieved November 24, 2007.
  6. [6]
    Catucci, Nick (March 29, 2009). "The Yeah Yeah Yeahs Return With New Album 'It's Blitz!'". New York Magazine. New York. Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  7. [7]
    La Gorce, Tammy. "Success Stories In New Jersey Rock: The Un-Springsteen", The New York Times, November 16, 2003. Accessed January 2, 2008. "All of which is fine by Ms. O, 24, an Englewood native who still lives in Bergen County but declined to say where. Any rock star who struts around in outfits made specifically for her by the designer Christian Joy can expect some of that, she said."
  8. [8]
    Kleimann, James. "Englewood Native's Band First in History to Perform on Empire State Building; Indie darlings the Yeah Yeah Yeahs filmed the music video "Despair" in April on top of the famous building.", Englewood-Englewood Cliffs Patch, June 26, 2013. Accessed June 14, 2018. "Karen O, the stage name of Karen Lee Orzolek, a Dwight Englewood grad, kept the filming a secret for logistical and creative reasons, she told the Times."
  9. [9]
    "The Things They Say 13802". contactmusic.com. October 20, 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  10. [10]
    "Boys with the hoods clean up". The Sydney Morning Herald. October 13, 2003.
  11. [11]
    "Women Who Rock Right Now: No. 3". Spinner. July 15, 2007. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  12. [12]
    "Karen O debuts side project with Brooklyn show". NME. July 22, 2008. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  13. [13]
    Brandon (July 18, 2008). "Karen O Makes Native Korean Rock". Stereogum. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  14. [14]
    Mikael Wood (September 29, 2009). "Album review: Karen O and the Kids' 'Where the Wild Things Are'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 7, 2011. ... ethereal vocals over charmingly ramshackle folk-pop arrangements ...
  15. [15]
    Margaret Wappler (April 18, 2009). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs will blitz the main stage Sunday". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 7, 2011. ... singer Karen O yelps her mandate over slabs of marbled synths ...
  16. [16]
    "Karen O Covers 'A Marshmallow World' for Target's Holiday Ads: Listen". Radio.com. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  17. [17]
    "Nellie Bly's 151st Birthday". www.google.com. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  18. [18]
    "Hear Karen O's Haunting New Song in 'Tomb Raider' Video Game Trailer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  19. [19]
    "New Karen O – "Highway 61 Revisited"". Stereogum. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  20. [20]
    Tom Breihan (May 27, 2011). "Trent Reznor and Karen O Cover Led Zeppelin". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  21. [21]
    Kasia Galazka (November 20, 2007). "Karen O is Where the Wild Things Are". Paste Magazine. Archived from the original on November 23, 2007. Retrieved November 20, 2007.
  22. [22]
    "Karen O's 'Where The Wild Things Are' song replaces Miley Cyrus in Grammys". NME. December 11, 2009. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
  23. [23]
    Minsker, Evan (August 10, 2013). "Karen O Also Has a Song in Spike Jonze's Film Her". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  24. [24]
    "Karen O & Spike Jonze's Oscar-Nominated 'Moon Song': 'Her' Track Spotlighted in New Featurette". Billboard. February 11, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  25. [25]
    "Liars – We Fenced Other Gardens With The Bones Of Your Own". Discogs. May 27, 2004. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  26. [26]
    Katie Zerwas (July 15, 2004). "Liars: We Fenced Other Gardens With The Bones Of Your Own". PopMatters. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  27. [27]
    "Foetus: "Blessed Evening"". foetus.org. Archived from the original on December 10, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  28. [28]
    Michele Lu (July 28, 2006). "Fans star in Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Cheated Hearts" video with help from Final Cut editor Stephen Berger". Internet Video Magazine. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  29. [29]
    "New Release: Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Cheated Hearts"". Video Static. August 4, 2006. Archived from the original on October 9, 2008. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  30. [30]
    David Knight (March 6, 2008). "Tiny Masters of Today's Hologram World by Kids With Canes Inc". PromoNews. Archived from the original on January 3, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
  31. [31]
    "Karen (Dem)O". Stereogum. December 11, 2006. Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  32. [32]
    "The Story Behind The Karen O Demo". Stereogum. December 11, 2006. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  33. [33]
    "completely surrounded by no trees: 12/01/2006 – 01/01/2007". Youngliars.blogspot.com. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  34. [34]
    "Blogger". www2.blogger.com. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  35. [35]
    "Yeah Yeah Yeahs discuss demo leak". NME. December 14, 2006. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  36. [36]
    Gordon, Jeremy (June 25, 2014). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O Announces First Solo Record, Crush Songs". Pitchfork.
  37. [37]
    Karen O is releasing her first vintage solo album Archived November 29, 2014, at the Wayback Machine June 27, 2014
  38. [38]
    Goble, Corban (February 10, 2015). "Karen O Streams Live Album Live From Crush Palace". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  39. [39]
    "Live from Crush Palace by Karen O". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  40. [40]
    Thomas, Helen (January 11, 2018). "Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O returns for Korean soap opera inspired track with Michael Kiwanuka". NME. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  41. [41]
    "The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time". Rolling Stone. January 1, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  42. [42]
    "An Encounter with Lux Prima – the Art of Collaboration". YouTube.
  43. [43]
    "Karen O: 'I'm Married!'". Rolling Stone. December 9, 2011.
  44. [44]
    Hudson, Alex (December 9, 2011). "Karen O Announces Marriage to Director Barnaby Clay". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  45. [45]
    O, Karen. "Thankful for our little Django and for his colorful warm welcome from all of you and ..." Twitter. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  46. [46]
    "Karen O Welcomes Baby Son, Shares Adorable First Photo!". Us Weekly. September 28, 2015.
  47. [47]
    "Karen O – Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  48. [48]
    "Karen O – Chart History – Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  49. [49]
    "ARIA Report: Issue 1043" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  50. [50]
    "Karen O – Chart History – Canada Rock". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  51. [51]
    "Karen O dans les Charts Français" [Karen O on the French Charts] (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique / Lescharts. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  52. [52]
    "Karen O – Chart History – Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  53. [53]
    Peaks in UK Physical Singles Chart:
  54. [54]
    "The Moon Song - Karen O & Ezra Koenig Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  55. [55]
    "Karen O – Chart History – Heatseekers Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  56. [56]
    "Immigrant Song – Single by Karen O & Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross". iTunes Store (US). December 2, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  57. [57]
    "Karen O – Chart History – Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  58. [58]
    "Karen O – Rock Digital Song Sales Chart History". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  59. [59]
    "Rapt [Explicit]: Karen O: MP3 Downloads". Amazon (US). Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  60. [60]
    "I Shall Rise (From "Rise of the Tomb Raider") – Single by Karen O". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  61. [61]
    "YO! MY SAINT (feat. Michael Kiwanuka) [Film Version] – Single by Karen O". iTunes Store (US). January 11, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  62. [62]
    "Anti-Lullaby (From "Hanna") – Single by Karen O on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  63. [63]
    "Bullet With Butterfly Wings (From "Hanna") – Single by Karen O on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  64. [64]
    "Karen O & Danger Mouse – "Woman"". Stereogum. January 15, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  65. [65]
    "Karen O & Danger Mouse – "Lux Prima"". Stereogum. November 16, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  66. [66]
    "Karen O & Danger Mouse – "Turn The Light"". Stereogum. March 11, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  67. [67]
    "Karen O & Willie Nelson – "Under Pressure"". Stereogum. October 28, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  68. [68]
    "Hello Tomorrow (adidas Version) – Single by Karen O". iTunes Store (US). January 2004. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  69. [69]
    "ODB Lives!: N.A.S.A. Releases New Video for Ol' Dirty Bastard, Karen O, and Fatlip Track – LA Weekly". LA Weekly. July 16, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  70. [70]
    "Pinky's Dream (The Remixes) [feat. Karen O] – Single by David Lynch". iTunes Store (US). August 7, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  71. [71]
    "Let It Grow (feat. Karen O & Tunde Adebimpe) – Single by Maximum Balloon". iTunes Store (US). September 25, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  72. [72]
    Phares, Heather. "The Handler – Har Mar Superstar". AllMusic. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  73. [73]
    "Bang Bang Boom Cake – Tiny Masters of Today". AllMusic. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  74. [74]
    Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "I'm Not There [Original Soundtrack] – Bob Dylan". AllMusic. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  75. [75]
    Bush, John. "The Spirit of Apollo – N.A.S.A." AllMusic. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  76. [76]
    Phares, Heather. "Maximum Balloon – Maximum Balloon". AllMusic. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  77. [77]
    Lymangrover, Jason. "Jackass 3D – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". AllMusic. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  78. [78]
    Lymangrover, Jason. "Master of My Make-Believe – Santigold". AllMusic. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  79. [79]
    Jurek, Thom. "The Seer – Swans". AllMusic. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  80. [80]
    Collar, Matt. "Frankenweenie Unleashed! – Original Soundtrack". AllMusic. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  81. [81]
    "The Moon Song (Music From and Inspired By the Motion Picture Her) – Single by Various Artists". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  82. [82]
    "We're All Young Together by Walter Martin". iTunes Store (US). May 13, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  83. [83]
    Sodomsky, Sam (March 3, 2017). "Listen to Sharon Van Etten Cover "The End of the World" for "The Man in the High Castle"". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  84. [84]
    Sendra, Tim. "Milano – Daniele Luppi / Parquet Courts". AllMusic. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  85. [85]
    "Vanity of Vanities – A Tribute to Connie Converse by Various Artists". iTunes Store (US). November 17, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  86. [86]
    "GAFFA-prisen 1991–2006 – se vinderne". Archived from the original on January 14, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Karen O.
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Karen_O, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.